Local resident picked as contestant on 'The Price is Right'

Saturday

May 10, 2014 at 2:00 AM

NEW CASTLE — One local resident got quite the early birthday present.

Crystal A. Weyers

NEW CASTLE — One local resident got quite the early birthday present.

Austin Sutherland turned 25 the day after he landed a spot on CBS's game show "The Price is Right." It's been nearly two months since the taping of that episode, but it will make its national debut this Monday. Sutherland and his girlfriend, Holly Mawn, spent their spring break in March visiting a friend in Los Angeles, and Mawn took the initiative to reserve two free tickets to a taping of the long-running game show.

"We were planning what to do during our trip to L.A. and going to a 'Price is Right' taping just seemed like something we had to do," Sutherland said.

On March 18, the first taping of the day was Sunday's upcoming Mother's Day-themed episode. His episode, at 11 a.m., had no special theme, but that didn't mean it wasn't special.

"The surprise when people are called down is truly genuine," he said. "Attending a taping of the show is quite the experience."

He said the six-hour day began by being ushered into a holding area, the signing of contracts and distribution of the show's signature name tags. "I was already thrilled I got to take a picture with my name tag," he said of the experience before he landed a spot as a contestant.

Although contestants are genuinely surprised when they're selected, it seems the producer does screen all audience members and select those who offer something special.

"I can be somewhat reserved, but I knew this was my chance," he said of his time speaking with the producer during the screening. "I was as animated as I could be without being insincere."

Sutherland, an employee of Unum, said he assured the producer he was outgoing since he works in insurance. A workaholic, he said he still makes sure to watch the show whenever there's a snow day. "I told him my favorite game is 'Cliffhangers' because I sung a capella in college and that yodeling is inspiring," he said. "It must have done the trick!"

Whether Sutherland got to put his yodeling talents to the test will remain unknown until Monday. Of the moment when he was told to "Come on down," Sutherland said he had to do a double take to make sure he had heard correctly.

"They have one person on stage who flips a sign over with the contestant's name in case you can't hear," he said.

Sutherland said he jumped to his feet, turning to share in the moment with Mawn, who hadn't yet realized he'd been selected. Instead, she was busy clapping, excited for whoever had been chosen.

He said his first thoughts, while high-fiving and hugging people on his way to the stage, was why he wore flip-flops the one time he was going to be on national television.

"When I did win one of the bids and got to go on stage, it was the most surreal experience of my life," he said. "It was the only time in my life that I have sincerely wondered if I was dreaming. I legitimately checked myself to confirm this was real, and next thing I know, I'm shaking Drew's hand."

Sutherland said host Drew Carey was "a ton of fun," engaging with the audience and even singing during set changes. "Drew asked me after I played my game on stage why I made a certain decision. I told him it's all so overwhelming and he couldn't blame me," he said.

Sutherland was aware of his every move. "I did some awkward 'raise the roof' type of gesture that I'm sure I'll cringe at every time I watch the show," he lamented. "But hey, it's part of the experience!"

Sutherland will be joined by more than 150 of his coworkers for a viewing party Monday morning. He said he's been asked in his office to place bids on coworkers' "sunglasses, a piece of toast — you name it."

Interestingly, this wasn't Sutherland's first brush with television. Approximately five years ago, he was featured in a Seacoastonline.com article after auditioning for "American Idol."

"It's strange to be building a reputation as a 'TV personality,' since I'm a guy who lives in Maine and works in insurance!'" he said. "That doesn't seem to be the typical path!"

Sutherland grew up in New Castle before going to Colby College in Maine, and then beginning his career with Unum, which recently took him to the United Kingdom for a year. He now lives in Portland, Maine.

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